The embarrassing situation in which the other members of the family
were placed, imposed upon them a profound silence, in reference to
the subject of conversation. Yet, while Denny delivered the aforesaid
harangue from the chimney-corner, every eye was fixed upon him with an
expression of pride and admiration which escaped not his own notice.
Their deportment towards him was affectionate and respectful; but none
of them could so far or so easily violate old habits as to address him
according to his own wishes; they therefore avoided addressing him at
all.

The next morning Father Finnerty paid them his purposed visit, and,
as he had promised, arrived in time for breakfast. A few of Denis's
relations were assembled, and in their presence the arrangements
respecting the colt and Denny's clerical prospects were privately
concluded. So far everything was tight; the time of Denny's departure
for Maynooth was to be determined by the answer which Father Finnerty
should receive from the bishop; for an examination must, of course,
take place, which was to be conducted by the prelate, or by some other
clergyman appointed for that purpose. This and the necessary preparation
usual on such occasions, were the only impediments in the way of his
departure for Maynooth, a place associated with so many dreams of that
lowly ambition which the humble circumstances of the peasantry permit
them to entertain.

The Irish people, I need scarcely observe, are a poor people; they are,
also, very probably, for the same reason, an imaginative people; at all
events, they are excited by occurrences which would not produce the same
vivacity of emotion which they experience upon any other people in the
world. This, after all, is but natural; a long endurance of hunger